History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 34

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Everts & Abbott, Philadelphia, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Abbott
Number of Pages: 683


USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 34


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INCORPORATION AS A CITY.


The villages of Grand Traverse and Flint River con- tiuued ou with a steady and uneventful growth until the year 1855. Streets were regularly laid out and built upon, but no municipal organization existed, and the villages were still under the jurisdiction of Flint township.


In the early part of January, 1855, the subject of a separate organization was agitated. All agreed as to its feasibility, but there was much difference of opinion as to the advantage of a city over a village charter. The fol- lowing article from a leading local paper of that date embodies the sentiments of those who were in favor of a city charter :


" A word now upon the propriety of having our incor- poration a city. It is conceded on all hands that we should be incorporated. It is also true that a village charter might meet our present requirements, but within the limits of the proposed corporation we have already as many inhabitants as the city of Grand Rapids had when incorporated, and


Gillet, Amus. Glover, Benj. S. Graham, Alexander. Griswohl, John C. Hempsted, Alonzo. linyes, John A. Hazelton, George II. Hazelton & Patterson. llenle, Charles. Henderson, Henry M. Henderson, James. Henderson, H. M. & Jamos. Iliggins, Henry I. Iliggins & Pratt. Hayward, Rufus. Hopkins, George S. Ilamilton, John. Hill, George J. W. llolmes, Frederick.


Huff, Thomas.


Hascall, Charles C. Heale, George. ITill, Leonard II. Hart, Nathaniel. Hydraulic Association. Ingersoll, Morgan. Jacockes, Rev. Mr. Kline, John A.


Kimball, Anson. Kress, Azarinh. Low, Spencer F. Le Roy, Henry W. Law, Anson.


Walker, James B.


128


HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.


considerably more than the city of Adrian when she got her charter. And at the rate at which we have been growing for two or three years past, if we should now be incorporated as a village, it is almost a matter of course that we should find it necessary to have our village eharter changed for a city one by the time the next Legislature meets, two years hence. By obtaining a city charter now we obviate the necessity of appearing again before the Legislature within a short interval."


Jan. 18, 1855, a citizens' meeting was held in the court- house to consider the subject of a city charter, and after several hours of spirited debate Gen. C. C. Hlaseall, Levi Walker, Charles N. Beecher, F. H. Rankin, James Bird- sall, George M. Dewey, and C. S. Payne were chosen a committee to draft the provisions of the proposed charter. Of that committee Messrs. Dewey and Rankin alone sur- vive. The draft was presented to an adjourned citizens' meeting, and after further discussion adopted. The busi- ness of working over a settlement into a city was gone through with by the Legislature with its customary dispatch, and the act of incorporation became a law by the approval of Governor Bingham, Feb. 13, 1855.


The act of incorporation described the city boundaries as follows :


"SECTION 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact : That so much of the township of Flint, in the County of Genesee, as is in- eluded in the following limits, to wit : Beginning on the left bank of Flint River, at the junction of the Thread River, ronning thenee up said Thread River to the Saginaw road, so called ; thenec east on the south line of section eighteen, town seven north, of range seven east to the sootbeast corner of said section eighteen: thenee north to the north line of the Northera wagon-road, so called ; thence northwest- erly along said north line to the southeasterly line of the MeNeal west subdivision ; thence so as to include the whole of said west subdi- vision ; thence from the southeasterly corner of land known as the Stevens purebase and now belonging to Benjamin Pearson, north- westerly to the southerly line of the Richfield road, so enlled, passing the burying-ground in Flint; thence northeasterly on said line to a point opposite the easterly corner of said burying-ground; thence northwesterly to the northerly corner of said burying-ground ; thenee southwesterly to the westerly corner of said burying-ground; thenee northwesterly to the Flint River; thence down the centre of said river, to the place of beginning ; also, so much of the said township of Flint as is included in the following limits, to wit : Beginning on the right bank of Flint River, opposite the island at the junction of Flint and Thread Rivers, at the spring where Chauncey S. Payne has a hydraulic ram; thenee north to the lino between subdivision lots thirteen and fourteen of great lots, or sections three and four, of Smith's Reservation : thence along said line to the line between great lots, or sections two and three, of Smith's Reservation; thence due north to Detroit Street extended ; theace along said street to the north line of subdivision lot five of a part of great lot two, according to the recorded plat ; thence east along said line to the Saginaw plank-road ; thenee south along the line of said plank-road to Alexander McFar- land's north line; thence east along said line to the Flint River; theneo down the centre of said river to the place of beginning; be, and the same is hereby set off from said township, and declared to bo a city, by the name of the ' City of Flint.'


" SECTION 2. The freemen of said city, from time to time being jahabitants thereof, shall be and continue to be a body corporate and politie, by the name of the ' mayor, recorder, and aldermen of the city of Flint.' . .


" SECTION 5. The said city shall be divided into three wards, as fol- lows : The first ward shall embraec all that portion of the city lying north of Flint River; the second ward shall embrace all that portion of the city lying south of Flint River and east of the centre of Sagi- naw Street ; and the third ward shall embrace all that portion of the city lying south of Flint River and west of the centre of Saginaw Street. .


"SECTION 6. Designated the following polling-places for the first charter election : ' That of the first ward at the Scotch Block ; that of the second ward at Lyon's Hotel ; that of the third ward at the office of the county clerk : l' orided, that the eleetors of either of said wards when assembled, by a vote of the majority of those present, may ad- journ the election to any other place in such ward.'"


The first charter election was held April 2, 1865, and the officers then deelared elected were as follows: Grant Decker, Mayor; Levi Walker, Recorder; Charles N. Beecher, Supervisor ; Elihu F. Frary, Treasurer ; Cornelius Roosvelt, Marshal ; Benjamin Pearson, Henry I. Higgins, Directors of the Poor; Daniel Clark, School Inspector ; Charles Seymour, Levi Walker, Lewis G. Bickford, and Willard Eddy, Justices of the Peace.


Ward Officers .- First Ward : George M. Dewey, James W. Armstrong, Aldermen ; Asahel Fuller, Assessor ; Wil- liam Moon, Street Commissioner ; Cyrus A. Goff, Constable. Second Ward : Benjamin Pearson, David Mather, Aller- men ; William Hamilton, Assessor ; William Eddy, Street Commissioner ; Erastus K. Carrier, Constable. Third Ward: William M. Fenton, A. T. Crosman, Aldermen ; David Foot, Assessor ; John C. Griswold, Street Commis- sioner ; Daniel L. Nash, Constable.


The new city then contained a population of about 2000* inhabitants. Its first assessment roll returned an aggregate valuation of $450,601. The amount of taxes levied and collected on this roll was $3320.92, which was applied for the following purposes :


State and county. $1136.50


School District No. 1. 287.16


Military tax


No. 2. 215.96


496.79


Ilighway taxes returned. 22.21


For city purposes, including collector's fees. 1162.30


$3320.92


Those residents assessed fer taxation in 1855 were :


Allen, John C. Barrows, J. C.


Aplin, Samuel.


Bump, David.


Andrews, Asa.


Beardslee, A.


Adams, Eber. Behan, John.


Aylward, William.


Bishop, Giles.


Alport, Samuel.


Bishop, Russell.


Anderson, Reuben.


Bishop, R. & I.


Ateliinson, Abbey.


Blades, William.


Andrews, George.


Beecher, Charles N.


Alexander, B. F.


Beecher & lliggins.


Ackerman, William.


Bailey, Jarvis.


Atherton, Ama.


Birdsall, James.


Atherton, Mrs. A.


Birdsall, Jesse.


Arnold, Lewis.


Barker & Patterson.


Aplin, Thomas.


Baker, Mrs.


Allen, Sarah.


Branch, Thomas.


Armstrong & Co.


Belcher & French.


Armstrong, J. W.


Bevins, Nancy.


Allen & Randall.


Bump, Anderson.


Barney, W. M.


Cumings & Carron.


Baker, William.


Campbell, Ten Eyek.


Bozzel, John.


Collins, Orson. Chambers, William D.


Booth, Joel A.


Baltay, William.


Curtis, Daniel.


Bickford, Lewis G.


Clark, William.


Blades, J. H. C.


Clark, W. & J. B.


Bchee, George.


Curtis & Son.


Bearsley, Stephen.


Cumings, Thomas R.


# The United States census returns, at various periods, have re- ported the population as follows: 3850, 1670: 1860, 2950; 1870, 5386. State census of 1874, 8197. The United States census for 1880 will probably show a population execeding 11,000 inhabitants.


129


Crandall, William P. Crosman, A. T. Cary, Alonzo. Costillo, Andrew. Croff, Abner. Cudney, Charles II.


Fenton & Bishop. Foss, John.


Lake, Nicholas.


Rice, Charles. Rising, II. C.


Griffith, Orrin.


Lake, John.


Garland, John.


Lee, Edward.


Goff, Cyrus II.


Lee, Thomas.


Ripley & Armstrong. Russell, N. Rice, William. Sterenson, Williamu. Smith, A. G.


Charles, William. Conkling & Kellogg. Carman & Lovejoy. Carman, Joseph. Collins, William.


Cooper, Hiram. Cornell, D. B.


Gazlay, Miles.


Morrison & Eldly.


Seaton, William.


Curtis, Samuel,


Gazlay, Ward.


Moore, James.


Stevens, A. C. (estate of).


Gahan, William.


Miles, Manley.


Saunders, Mrs.


Gillman, D.


Mowry, Henry.


Gahan & Decker.


Moore, Stephen.


Carrier, Erastus K.


Golden, William.


Moon, William.


Craft, Josiah.


Hamilton, John B.


Mason, Jared.


Sliter, II. M.


Hughes, Michael.


Marshall, William. Merch, Silas P.


Stow, Mrs. Swan, Rev. John.


Clark, II. O.


logan, Thomas.


McFarlan, Alexander.


Culver, Edward.


Hubbard, Malinda.


Morse, Lorenzo D.


Cumings, Elizabeth. Culver, Alfred.


Heale, Charles.


MeMinaman, Pat.


Mccollum, James.


Mothersill, William.


Miles, Mrs. E.


Dodge, Nathaniel.


Higgins, Heury 1.


McNamee, B.


Danes, Frederick B.


Iliggins, (', Rt.


Miles, Mrs. Isaac.


Dewey, George MI.


Ilopkins, (. S.


Miller, William.


Dewey, D. D.


Hlvod, George F'.


Mather, David.


Dewey & Crosman.


Ilawkins, William.


McCall, Philip.


Thomson, E. II.


Dewey & Pearson. Darling, Asa.


Iliggins & Brother.


Morse, David.


Triekey, Luther.


Decker, James C.


Hazelton, George II.


Newcomb, Henry.


Thurber, William M.


Davis. A. P.


Ilagerty, Mrs.


Nash, Daniel L.


Thayer, William.


Delbridge, John.


Haseall, Charles (".


Newcomb, Thomas.


Tolles, Henry.


Dawson, Richard.


Hamilton, Wm. & O.


Newell, Thomas.


Thayer, Artemas.


Drake, Elijah.


Hamilton, William.


O'Sullivan, Daniel.


Tollaver, William.


Decker, Grant.


llamilton, O.


O'Donoughue, Washington. Omsted, Gosen.


True, William W.


Duran, John.


Howell, Isaac.


Ottoway, Stephen II.


Terrill, David.


Dana, Chauncey.


Hamilton, John.


Pettee & Brother.


Utley, Elisha.


Dewstoc, C. J.


Hill, Cary.


Parrish, Jasper.


Van Ness, Peter.


De Graff, Peter. Eldridge, I. N.


Higgins, M. E.


Pearsons, William.


Van Tifllin, Schuyler.


Eddy, Jerome.


Harper, Lemuel L.


People's Bank.


Van Tifilin, Renben.


Eally, Willard.


Haver, William.


Payne, Chaunecy S.


Van Vechten, M. B.


Eddy, William.


lawley, John.


Pearsoll, Ilarry.


Wheeler, Shepard.


Henry, Eunice.


l'helps, II. C.


Wood. H. W.


lowe, Mrs. Wmn.


Patrick, Charles.


Warren, Thomas.


Fogarty, John.


Iron, W. W.


Parks, Thomas.


Whiting, John W.


Fairchild, Philo.


Jones, Ransom.


Petter, W. N.


Wiseman, Lyman.


Failing, Levi.


Johnson, Edwin.


l'erry, II. W.


Watson, David.


Fenton, William M.


l'atterson, William.


Wait, George. Walker, Levi.


Fish, Mrs. Octavia.


day, John.


Parker, Rev. Orson.


Walkley & Pifford.


I'rary, Frank E. Foot, David.


Juda, Richard.


l'ettee, E. N.


Williams, Ephraim S.


Firman, Josiah. French, Susan.


Keyes, Douglass.


Palmer, J. W. Quick, David.


Wicks, Samuel B.


Freeman, Daniel S.


Kent, -.


Quigley & Holgate.


Willett, John.


Fuller, Charles L.


Kline, Mrs. James.


Quigley, John.


Witherbre, Mrs.


Fuller, Asahel.


Kellogg, Marion.


Randall, Abner. Rankin, Francis II.


Wood. T. F.


Forsyth, O. F. Frreland, Cornelius.


Link, John.


Woodhouse,


Webber, John.


Ferguson, James. Forrest, William. Farley, Josiah.


Leach, Dewitt C. Leiberman, E. Lewis. E. J.


Lyon, William II. C.


Runyon, Content. Reynolds, Alnon. Roosevelt, Cornelius. Rodgers, T. V.


Walker, James B. Walker, J. B., & Co. Walker, H. C.


Frary, D. S. 17


Lake, Warner.


Robinson, Isane N.


Carney, James.


Lewis, Royal D.


Ladd, Nathaniel,


Golden, Robert.


Lowe, A. V.


Stillson, Harris. Seymour, Charles.


Gazlay, William.


Lacy, Albert D.


Goodrich, O. C.


Leister, Thomas.


Green, S. M.


Lanckton, Caleb.


Sutton, Johu. Scoville, William R.


Guild, Mrs.


MeAlester, James.


Stewart, E. M.


Culver, George. Clark, Daniel. Clark, Widow.


Stage, Mrs. Smith, Rev. George. Skinner & Martin.


Case. Mrs. Cadwell, Edward.


Holbrook, James,


Hubbard, William R.


Merriman, Isaiah.


Eperry, George. Sveley, Mark D. Stafford, Edmond. Summers, Charles II.


Clark, -.


Hohnes, Frederick.


Deceuninck, Charles L.


Henderson, Henry M.


Ilill, Georgo J. W.


Mattison, Seth A.


Trainer, Patrick.


Darling. James.


Harrison, Andrew.


Howard, Mrs.


Patrick, William.


Van Syekle, G. A.


Egle, George. Elmore, M. S. Elstow, Samuel.


Hunt, Perry.


l'earson, Benjamin.


Wolverton, Stephen.


M'Irming, Mrs.


Jenny, Royal W. Jackson, R. II.


Pratt, Mrs. Roxana.


Johnson & Blanchard.


I'ratt, Il. R.


Warren, Samnel N.


Kirby, George, & Co.


Page, Robert J. S.


Wesson, Leonard.


Wing, Mrs.


Frizzell, Samuel.


Kline, Joseph.


Kline, John A.


Knickerbocker, Benner.


Watkins, Nathan.


Ryan, Daniel. Richards, Richard.


Ward, Alexander.


Farrell, Richard.


Safford, Orriu. Simmons, T.


L'aufman, -.


Henderson, James.


Lamond, Robert D.


Gillett, Amos. Goslin, James II. Griswohl, Martha.


FLINT CITY.


. Surryhne, William. Stewart, P. II. Skidmore, Jobn. Stewart, Mrs. Stow, George.


Todd, John.


130


HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.


Witherbee, Austin B. Wood, Smith & Wicks. Yawkey, J. II.


Yawkey, J. II., & Son. Yorks, James.


BOUNDARIES, WATER-COURSES, AND STREETS.


In laying the foundation of the city the points of the compass were ignored. The line marking the city limits changes its direction twenty-three times in making its grand circuit, and only once, and then for a very short distance, does it approach either the cast, west, north, or south. Through this irregular inclosure, and dividing it into two not very unequal parts, the Flint River pursues its wind- ing way from the northeast towards the southwest. In the upper part of its course it divides in natural channels, formu- ing Crapo's Island ; farther down and opposite the central part of the city it pours over a dam, and through artificial channels on each side for the benefit of Crapo's and W. Hamilton's mills; below the Saginaw Street bridge it bends southward, turns abruptly to the north, and sweeps round to the south, nearly surrounding J. B. Atwood's Island mill and yards; then running the gauntlet of Begole & Fox's mills, it escapes from the city limits in another grand sweep northward by Glenwood Cemetery.


The southern part of the city is again divided by the Thread River, a slender, tortuous creek, which meanders up from the southeast, and empties into the Flint, near the Island mill. The old govermuent road, now Saginaw Street, crosses the southern city limits in a northerly direction, turns several points towards the west, crosses the Thread River a mile and a quarter from the centre of the city, pur- sues the even tenor of its way for half a mile, turns west of north, makes a bec-line for the Flint, then turns due north, and so passes out of the city, about a mile from the bridge. An extension of Saginaw Street in the line in which it passes through the centre of the city has been opened through the part north of the river, and is called Detroit Street. Saginaw Street and the rivers form the boundaries of the wards. All north of the Flint River constitutes the First Ward; all south of the river and east of Saginaw Street, the Second Ward; between Saginaw Street and Thread River, the Third Ward; and all west of the Thread, the Fourth. The last is by far the smallest in population, as it is the youngest of the wards.


The main thoroughfare through the centre of the city at right angles with Saginaw Street is Kearsley Street, which comes up through the sparsely-settled Fourth Ward, beyond the Thread, touches the Flint a quarter of a mile below the bridge, crosses Saginaw Street a few blocks south of it, and passes on, steadily diverging from the river in a direction north of east. To these two streets the other streets of the city adjust themselves with tolerable success. The principal streets running parallel with Saginaw are, named in order to the west, Beach, Church, Grand Tra- verse, Oak, Stockton, and Ann Arbor; and, to the east, Ilarrison, Clifford, Stevens, and Liberty. The streets run- ning parallel with Kearsley and south of it are numbered, except Court Street, which falls between Fourth and Fifth. Between Kearsley and the river are two fragmentary streets called Uuion and Mill. On the north side the streets which try to run parallel with the river are numbered, but are somewhat demoralized by the divergent courses of Detroit


and Saginaw Streets, and their upper ends circle over to- wards the river like the threads of a spider-web. The principal streets west of Detroit Street and parallel with it are Garland, Mason, Smith, and Stone, all of which main- tain a fair degree of rectitude.


On the 6th of April, 1855, the Common Council ap- pointed a committee to have a survey made of Saginaw Street, with a view to establishing a uniform grade. The com- mittee reported and the council adopted a grade as follows : " Commencing at the north side of Mill Street at the level of the plank of the bridge; thence on a true grade to the surface in the centre of Saginaw Street at the south side of Kearsley Street ; thence on a true grade on a point on the south side of Court Street, two feet below the surface of the ground in the centre of Saginaw Street; thence on the same grade south until it comes to the surface, -the grade to be the whole breadth of the street."


On the adoption of this grade by the Common Council, improvements were immediately begun. Buildings that were low were raised. Uniformu sidewalks were laid, and, at its completion, the main business street of Flint com- pared favorably with that of any city of the State for breadth and regularity. This street, as also other principal business streets, is paved with wood and kept in a cleanly condition, while either side is lined with fine brick blocks and imposing structures. The residence streets are adorned with private dwellings of much taste and elegance, many of them being surrounded with extensive and well-kept grounds.


The city has a present population of about 10,000, and its assessed* valuation for real and personal estate, and the amount of taxes levied for all purposes, for the year 1878, was as follows :


First Ward. - Aggregate valuation, $315,228; tax levied, $13,650.48.


Second Ward .- Aggregate valuation, $413,572; tax levied, $18,133.85.


Third Ward .- Aggregate valuation, $404,190; tax levied, $19,086.68.


Fourth Ward .- Aggregate valuation, $82,000; tax Jevied, $3711.69.


FLINT IN 1879.


For many years Flint has been noted as an active, enter- prising commercial and manufacturing centre. Several mills are entensively engaged in the manufacture of pine and hard-wood lumber, and a large and increasing business is done by six mills in the line of sash, doors, and blinds. There are in active operation three foundries and machine- shops, two grain-elevators, four flouring-wills with an ag- gregate capacity of 60,000 barrels of flour annually, a paper- quill, two stave- and heading-mills, a large furniture-manu- factory, extensive charcoal and chemical works, two brew- eries, a tannery, several carriage-manufactories, woolen- mills, brick-yards, and numerous other industries of less importance, whose aggregate of manufactures amount to many thousands of dollars per year.


# This valuation is base I upon a one-third cash value. The pres- ent year-1879- property is being assessel at more nearly its true value, and the returns will treble the aggregates of valuation here given.


HON. EDWARD H. THOMSON.


Among the names which are inseparably connected with the annals of Genesee County is that of Edward II. Thomson, who, during a resmience of more than forty years in the village and city of Flint, has been prominently identified with its progress and prosperity, and has well and faithfully served his fellow-citizens in the places of honor and trust to which they have re- peatedly called him.


Ile was born June 15, 1810, at Kendal, in the county of Westmoreland, Eng- land, and at the age of three years came to the United States with his parents, who made their home in Boston, Mass. At the proper age he entered the White Plains Academy, in Westchester Co., N. Y., and there laid the founda- tion of his education during a four years' course of study. After leaving the academy he spent two years of his youth on the ocean, as a sailor before the mast.


Ilaving resolved to enter the legal profession, he removed to Buffalo, N. Y., where, in 1830, he commenced the study of the law in the office of the lon. Millard Fillmore (afterwards I'resident) and the lion. Thomas T. Sherwood. From this connection there grew up between Mr. Fillmore and himself a friendly intimacy which continued uninterrupted until the death of the ex- President.


At the age of twenty-two years-having then been admitted to practice- Mr. Thomson established himself in his profession, first in the city of Buffalo, and afterwards at Cleveland, Ohio. While practicing his profession in Buffalo, he started, in connection with Geo. Roberts, & daily newspaper called the Buffalo Transcript.


At the time when the emigration from New York to Michigan was at its height he came to this State; located in the township of Atlas in 1837, and received from Gov. S. T. Mason the appointment of prosecuting attorney for Lapeer County, of which the town of Atlas then formed a part. In 1838 he ramoved to Flint, where he associated himself in business with John Bartow (theo Register in the U. S. Land Office at Flint), under the name and style of Bartow & Thomson. In 1845 he received the appointment of prosecuting attorney for Genesee County, and held the office during that and the following year. In 1847 he was elected to the State Senate for the district embracing Genesee, Oakland, Lapeer, Shiawassee, Saginaw, Tuscola, and all of the counties to the Straits of Mackinac, and the whole of the Upper Peninsula, and served in that body for the years 1848 and 1849 as chairman of the judiciary committee, chairman of the committee on mines and minerals, and as a oiem- ber of the committee on State affairs. During this term in the Senate he intreduced the bills which resulted in the establishment of the Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, at Flint, of the AsyIuni for the Insane, at Kalamazoo, and also for the incorporation of tha first copper and iron mining companies in the Upper Peninsula. (IIo had accompanied Dr. Douglass Houghton in his explorations of the Lake Superior region in 1844 and 1845, and had in this way become fully aware of its rich mineral resources.) Another bill introduced by him was one for the promo- tion of foreign emigration direct to Michigan. This services in proenring the adoption of this measure were recognized by Gov. Ransom, who gave him the appointment of commissioner of emigration under the law, a position which he filled for three years, first having his office at New York, but afterwards establishing it at Stuttgart, in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany. Here, in a personal interview with the king, he laid before him the details of his emigration plan, and afterwards gave a full explanation of the vast resources of Michigan by the publication and distribution of a pamphlet of some sixty pages, giving in detail the resources of the State. This same information was also given to the public through the medium uf the German press, and with such success that, during the first year, two thousand eight hundred persons enugrated from that country to Michigan. The total result of his energetic efforts was an accession of nearly twenty-five thousand to the population of the State; and these were principally of a hardy and enterprising clusy uf michanics and farmers, many of them possessing considerable pecuniary mear.s.


While in London, in 1851, he received the appointment of United States deputy commissioner to the great Industrial Exhibition In that city, generally known as the World's Fair. In this position his assiduous attentions to


American visitors, and his efficient aid and timely advice to exhibitors, gained for lum high encomiums, while his social qualities made him a welcome and honored visitor in the houses of the nobility and gentry of the world's mie- tropolis. On his return to the United States he remained for a time in Wash- ington City, but soon after resumed his profession in Flint. In 1858 he was elected Representative in the State Legislature, and in the session of 1859 served on the judiciary committee, and on the committee on State affairs.




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